Good Post-Feast!
Stage 2 of the Thanksgiving Simbulan Style, 2004...
...is just now wrapping up. The counters are cleaned off. The dishwasher has just started the drying cycle. My brother Michael, his wife Vero, and his two children, John Michael and Alyssa have departed and are finishing their Thanksgiving at their own house. My brother, Don, is upstairs in his room with his daughter, Alexandra. -He's in the process of moving into a new house right now. My aunt and uncle are in the guest room - they were the first ones down so to speak. I thought they had flown from San Diego, it turns out they had taken Amtrak cross-country. WOW! My parents are getting for bed, and for their trip up - and back - to NYC tomorrow. And I'm sitting here in the living room on my laptop. Letterman is on in the background. And I just finished the last slice of the Chocolate Fudge with Pecans Pie - which I warmed slightly in the microwave, and accompanied with a few forkfuls of vanilla ice cream.
It was a very nice Thanksgiving. I was happy I could be here and help out. For some unknown reason, my appearance this afternoon surprised my parents, but they were very glad to have me here to help out, and just to be with the family. I think they thought I was working in Richmond. ?? In any case, they were very happy to have all four of their boys home at the same time - which happens less and less as we have grown up and moved away. It truly was nice being together as a family again.
One thing I forgot to mention earlier... At the height of the cooking and preparations, there were at least five cooks in the kitchen at once. There was some amazing choreography around the island, by the stove and the sink. Of course, during all of this, my two-year old niece, Alyssa, was walking around supervising all of us. She gave us all "Satisfactory's" for our perfomance tonight. Come to think of it, all the young ones tonight were very well behaved, and they even were settled enough to pose for pictures. Usually they're all very fussy... or asleep by the time the cameras come out.
But the big surprise of the evening is/was the lack of leftovers. The turkey was basically down to the bones. The chicken, ditto. The mashed potatoes were finished off. The ham is now just a soup bone. My mom's experimental yams were reduced to one small Tupperware container. Oh, there was a lot of stuffing left, but that always happens. And there also is a full pan of gravy left too - but that also always happens - at least in this household. However, all the main dishes were well served, and served us all well. -Oh, and there's just 1/2 of the cherry pie left!
Stage 3 will begin tomorrow with.. Hmm.. I may have to head out to get some breakfast.
